It Starts Small

From cover to cover, God’s Word speaks about the dilemma of our pain and emotional turmoil. We have an honest record about the people of great diversity and great faith, who also experienced anxiety, fear, and depression. God’s Word does not sweep these accounts under the rug. Read the following “cries of the heart.” Can you relate to any of these? Why?

Adam:

¹⁰ And he said, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked, so I hid.” Genesis 3:10

Rachel:

30 When Rachel saw that she was not bearing Jacob any children, she envied her sister. “Give me sons, or I will die!” she said to Jacob. Genesis 30:1

Moses:

¹⁴ I can’t carry all these people by myself. They are too much for me. ¹⁵ If you are going to treat me like this, please kill me right now if I have found favor with you, and don’t let me see my misery anymore.” Numbers 11:14-15

Elijah:

⁴ but he went on a day’s journey into the wilderness. He sat down under a broom tree and prayed that he might die. He said, “I have had enough! Lord, take my life, for I’m no better than my ancestors.” 1 Kings 19:4

Job:

³ May the day I was born perish,
and the night that said,
“A boy is conceived.”
⁴ If only that day had turned to darkness!
May God above not care about it,
or light shine on it.
Job 3:3-4

David:

¹ Lord, why do you stand so far away?
Why do you hide in times of trouble?
Psalms 10:1

Jeremiah:

¹¹ My eyes are worn out from weeping;
I am churning within.
My heart is poured out in grief
because of the destruction of my dear people,
because infants and nursing babies faint
in the streets of the city.
Lamentations 2:11

Jesus:

³⁸ He said to them, “I am deeply grieved to the point of death. Remain here and stay awake with me.” Matthew 26:38

What I have discovered through the Holy Spirit is the instances I could identify with, great pain and suffering, God had a purpose in. He did not cause suffering but He was always here through it, even when I did not seek Him or ask Him for help.

³ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort. ⁴ He comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any kind of affliction, through the comfort we ourselves receive from God. 1 Corinthians 1:3-4

Part of letting go of shame is understanding that we are completely surrendered and serve a great God. In the past we suffered agonizing pain, despair, the wish to just die, but we came through it so He could bring closure by healing our deep wounds through His love, mercy, grace and forgiveness. When you have truly experienced it, God reveals to us that our brokenness, pain and suffering has a greater purpose. It is so we can connect authentically and compassionately with other broken people. Shame steals from us our true identity. It keeps us help captive to our past and defines us. It lies to us. It seeks to keep us chained to our own unforgiveness and steals the grace and mercy of healing from us.

God wants us to turn away from our shame. Let it go so that through transformation of our heart and mind we begin to understand and have compassion for those who are suffering. He wants us to look past the obvious and see deeper into a person. To have compassion and and connect through understanding what something once felt like. To give the good news of a real hope from a real God! This is the power of His empathy working in you and through you.

Shame Part 1: Where are you?
Shame Part 2: The Naked Truth
SHame Part 3: Enough Already
Shame Part 4: Jars of Clay
Shame Part 5: Weight Watchers
Shame Part 6: Death to Selfie
Shame Part 7: Empowered by Empathy
Shame Part 8: Scorning Shame